Financial wellbeing
We understand how much money worries and stress can affect the overall wellbeing of staff and our financial wellbeing package includes support/education tools aimed at helping you make the most of your money, deal effectively with debt and plan for the future.
BCP Council Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)
You may be affected by the Welfare Benefit Cap, the bedroom tax, your eligible rent is restricted, or you do not have enough money for a deposit or rent in advance. If your Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit does not cover your full eligible rent, you may be able to get Discretionary Housing Payment.
Further information about DHP and an application form are available here.
BCP have also produced the two leaflets below covering support on Energy and Saving as well as advice if you are worrying about money.
Advice Dorset
The Advice Dorset Partnership is a group of agencies that provide information, advice and guidance across geographic Dorset, covering the Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council areas. The Advice Dorset Partnership E news is published fortnightly on a Thursday, November 2022 edition covers Cost of Living advice.
Affinity Connect
A specialist provider of financial education in the workplace for the public sector, helping employees understand how to maximise their retirement savings in the context of their overall financial position. Affinity Connect have been engaged to deliver a range of workshop-based interactive sessions designed to support staff from when they start working for the NHS until retirement.
Help For Households
Cost of Living Payment
If you claim certain benefits or tax credits, you may be eligible for an extra payment to help with the cost of living. If you’re eligible, payments will be made automatically.
Find out more: Cost of Living Payment – GOV.UK
Countries around the world are facing rising goods and energy prices, inflation and cost of living pressures after the pandemic. We know people are worried so the government is offering help for households. See what cost of living support you could be eligible for.
NHS England
NHS England have added a page with a range of ideas to help any member of health and care staff and support their financial wellbeing.
Save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need. Learn more here.
PayPlan
One of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, offering help and advice to anyone struggling with debt. Find out how Payplan can try to help you in a way that allows you to live a normal and happy life while you are getting on top of your debt via our customised Payplan page. Payplan’s Financial Wellbeing Hub includes financial education and wellbeing to help you improve your relationship with money and take control of your financial future.
Money Helper
(Previously The Money Advice Service) – free and impartial money advice, set up by the government, which includes advice and guides to help improve your finances, tools and calculators to help keep track and plan ahead. Money Helper provides support over the phone and online.
EAP
If your organisation has an EAP (Employee Assistance Progamme) please check out the financial wellbeing support they may be able to offer.
FREE Will Writing for NHS Staff (worth £200)
Accord Legal Services offer a FREE will writing service for NHS staff. A spokesman for Accord said, “The pandemic has proved that none of us know what is around the corner. Making a Will may not be at the top of everybody’s list of priorities right now, but it is nonetheless vitally important. We want to make it easier for our key workers to cross this task off their to-do list.”
Accord is working with several NHS organisations across the country, including the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
For more information, call 01744 807048 or email info@accordwills.co.uk
Free Mortgage Advice
The following companies are offering free mortgage advice to NHS staff (normally between £400 – £500):
- Pulse Mortgages have become specialist NHS mortgage brokers and decided to remain fee-free for NHS staff. For more information, contact: 01277 424929/mob: 07958 027990/email: alex.murton@pulsemortgages.co.uk.
- Patrick James Solutions (PJS) are also fee-free for NHS staff. For more information, contact: 0785 467 3000/Facebook: @PJS.CO.UK/email: hello@patrickjamessolutions.co.uk.
Staff Benefits
- Health Service Discounts – number one independent discount retailer resource for NHS employees and their families
- Blue Light Card – available to members of the Emergency Services, NHS or Armed Forces – thousands of discounts online and on the high street. Free online service to get discount codes for different online stores. High Street discount card is an optional extra card which costs £4.99 for a 2 year membership
- Staff Benefits – from local independents to high street names in your area, every deal is exclusive to Healthcare, Government and Corporate staff (use your Trust email address when registering for an account)
Financial Wellbeing Hub
Good financial wellbeing means managing your money effectively and understanding the impact your finances can have on every aspect of your life, both good and bad.
Work through our sections on Financial Education and Financial Wellbeing to improve your relationship with money and take control of your financial future.
Read More at the Financial Wellbeing Hub
Carers UK
Carers UK awards grants and schemes for several reasons such as:
- Replacing essential white goods
- Helping with disability equipment or day to day living costs that cannot be met by government benefits
- Home repairs and moving home
- Help with the cost of a holiday
- Costs relating to childcare (e.g. school uniforms)
- Unexpected costs such as an unexpected bill
Read More at Carers UK website
Money Helper
Previously The Money Advice Service, Money Helper is a government-backed money guidance website that joins up money and pensions guidance to make it quicker and easier to find the right help. MoneyHelper brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: The Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service, and Pension Wise.
Visit the Money Helper website here
Photo by Nicola Barts
For more information check out our Cost of Living Crisis Quick links from Advice Dorset
Financial Support Available to NHS Staff
